Account-register.



A. P. STAPLES.

ACCOUNT REGISTER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 23, 1913.

1,086,236, Patented Feb. 3, 1914.

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ALBERT F. STAPLES, OF DORCHESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

ACCOUNT-REGISTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 3, 191 1.

Application filed June 23, 1913. Serial No. 775,403.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that-I, ALBERT F. STAPLES, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Dorchester, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Account-Registers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to account-registers, or similar filing-devices, of the type in which a series of leaves or frames are pivotally mounted, when in use, so that they may be swung into upright orhorizontal position.

In certain devices of the type in question, such, for example, as that disclosed in United States Letters Patent granted to me April 23, 1912, No. 1,023,889, the filingframes or leaves and the devices by which they are pivotally supported when in use are so arranged that the frames may be readily detached from the supporting-devices and removed in a compact bundle for the purpose of storing them in a safe or other suitable place. In the construction disclosed in my said patent the frames, when so removed, are disconnected from, and independent of, each other, so that an account-register constructed on this plan may be designated as a loose-leaf register.

The present invention is particularly applicable to account-registers, or filing-devices, of the loose-leaf type, and the object of the invention is. to provide simple and convenient means for pivotally supporting the filing-frames when in use and for facilitating the introduction of the frames to the supporting-means and their removal therefrom.

To the foregoing ends the invention comprises pivot-guiding and retaining means in the form of slotted plates or members which are so mounted upon a suitable cabinet or base as to have a sliding movement, by

which they are engaged with or disengaged from the pivots of the filing-frames, and a swinging-movement by which these pivots are brought into or out of their normal operative positions.

The invention is more particularly described as embodied in the account-register illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view on a fore and aft plane, of the-principal parts of an account-register, showing the parts in normal operative position; Fig. 2 is a partial vertical section, showing the filingframes and the guide-members in one of the positions assumed by them in the operation of inserting or removing the frames; Fig. 3 is a partial vertical section on the line 3-3 in 1, looking fromleft to right in the latter figure; and Fig. 4 is a partial verti cal section on the line l4 in Fig. 2, looking from left to right in the latter figure.

The invention is illustrated as embodied in an account-register having a series of leaves or filing-frames of a well-known form, each frame comprising a plate or body 5 of suitable sheet-material, which is stiffened at its vertical edges by ribs 6 which also constitute spacing-devices to suitably separate the bodies 5 when the frames are in superposed position. Each frame is provided, at its lower edge, with a transverse rod 7 about which the lower margin of the body is rolled, the ends of the rod projecting at each side to form pivots 8. Any ordinary or suitable clips may be employed for holding bills or other papers upon the front and rear surfaces of the frames, and as such devices are well known they are not illustrated herein.

When the filing-frames are in use they are pivotally mounted within a cabinet, which is illustrated as of a well-known form, comprising a horizontal base 9, a vertical back-wall 10 and two side-walls 11. To support the frames in the cabinet two supports are employed, these supports being fixed to the side-walls 11 and each comprising an inwardly-projecting ledge or flange 12 upon which the pivots 8 may rest, and a vertical shoulder 13 which is engaged by the ends of the pivots to prevent lateral movement of the frames.

The pivots are brought to, and retained in, properly spaced position upon the supports by means of a device hereinafter designated as the frame-guide. This device comprises two plates 14, which may be stamped from suitable sheet-metal and which stand vertically near each side-wall 11 of the cabinet. Only one of these plates is shown in the drawings, but it will be understood that the plate at the opposite side of the cabinet is in all respects similar. Each plate 1 1 is provided with a series of equidistant slots 15 through which the pivots 8" on the filingframes project, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, and in the normal position of the guide the slots are vertical, so that they retain the pivots from sliding downwardly upon the supports. Vhen the account-register is in use the frames may stand either in upright position or in substantially horizontal position, as shown in Fig; l, the upright frames inclining slightly toward the back of the cabinet and being supported by suitable buffers 16 upon the back-wall 10. Any number of frames may be swung from one position to the other in order to afford access to either surface of either of the frames. The horizontal frames are supported by buffers 17 on the base 9.

To facilitate the introduction and removal of the frames the guide-plates 14 are arranged to have both pivotal movements and horizontal sliding movements, and to cause them to move in unison and retain them in parallel positions they are connected rigidly by two transverse rods 18 and 19. The movements of the frame-guide are restricted by means of two pivots 21, which project inwardly from the frame-supports and e11- gage the lower ends of the foremost slots in the guide-plates, as shown particularly in Fig. i, the lower ends of these foremost slots having enlargements 20 which receive the pivots 21. The frame-guide is further controlled in its movements by means of angular members 22 which are fixed to the base 9 and have vertical flanges engaging the inner surfaces of the lower marginal portions of the guide-plates.

To permit the pivots 8 to be introduced through what are normally the upper ends of the slots 15 the upper margins 23 of the guide-plates 14 are bent outwardly, as shown in Fig. 3, so that these margins are offset sufficiently to clear the ends of the pivots. To further facilitate this operation the upper ends of the slots are slightly enlarged, as shown in Fig. 1.

As the tendency of the weight of the frames, in conjunction with the inclination of the frame-supports, is to rock the frameguide forwardly, means are provided for normally retaining the guide against such movement, and for this purpose a latch 2 1 is employed, this latch being pivoted upon the back-wall 10 of the cabinet and engaging a notch at the middle of the brace-rod 18. To constitute a further support for the frames at the time of their introduction to the cabinet, buffers 25 are mounted on the base 9 of the cabinet, in position to engage the ribs 6 of the lowermost frame and support the frames in position for their pivots to engage the ends of the slots 15, as hereinafter described.

The operation of the account-register just described is as follows: Supposing the frames to be in position for use as shown in Fig. 1; when itbecomes necessary to remove them from the cabinet the frames are first swung forwardly and downwardly to bring them all into the position occupied in Fig. 1 by the first four frames. The operator then grasps the rod 18, raises the latch 24: and draws the rod forwardly. This causes the guide to rock forwardly about the pivots 21 until what are normally the upright for ward edges of the guide-plates are swung down into engagement with the base 9, as shown in Fig. 2. During the first part of this movement the pivots remain upon the frame-supports, but they are finally engaged by the lower ends of the slots 15, and as these ends are in alinement with each other the pivots are drawn forwardly into the vertical alining position shown in Fig. 2 with the frames all in superposed position and resting upon the buffers 17 and 25. The frames may then be strapped or otherwise secured together in this position, if desired, and the operator then forces the rod 18 rearwardly, thus causing the guide to have a rearward sliding movement upon the base 9. This movement is facilitated by the members 22 which tend to retain the guide-plates in parallel position, and it is not interfered with by the pivots 21 since these pivots are at this time in alinement with the foremost slots 15. By the completion of this rear ward sliding movement the ends of the slots are caused to clear the pivots 8, and the frames may then be raised and removed in a body from the cabinet, while the guide is left in its rearmost position within the cabinet.

The foregoing operations are reversed when the filingframes are to be replaced in the cabinet. The operator lays the frames in alining superposed position upon the base, then draws the guide forwardly, thus causing the slots 15 to engage the respective pivots, and when the guide has been drawn to the position of Fig. 2 the operator swings it rearwardly, about the pivots 21, and the slots act to draw the pivots rea-rwardly into engagement with the frame-supports, the frame-guide being finally secured in normal position by the latch 24-.

My invention is not limited to the embodiment thereof hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, but may be embodied in various other forms within the nature of the invention as it is defined in the following claims.

I claim 1. An accountregister having, in combination, a series of filing-frames provided with guide-engaging and pivotal members adjacent their lower edges; a frame-guide provided with a series of spaced members to engage and cooperate with the guide-engaging members of the respective frames; and means for supporting the frame-guide, the frame-guide being movable forwardly and rearwardly on said means so that it may first engage the guide-engaging members when the frames are presented thereto in superposed position, and then guide the frames rearwardly to operative position.

2. An account-register having, in combination, a series of filing-frames provided with gnide-engaging and pivotal members adjacent their lower edges; supports upon which the frames may be pivotally mounted when in use; and a frame-guide provided with a series of spaced recesses to receive the guide-engaging members of the respective frames; the frame-guide being movable forwardly and rearwardly with respect to the supports so that it may be first brought into engagement with the frames when they are presented in superposed position, and then moved rearwardly with the frames to guide them into engagement with the supports.

8. An account-register having, in combination, a series of filing-frames provided with guide-engaging and pivotal members adjacent their lower edges, inclined supports upon which the frames may be pivotally mounted when in use; a frame-guide comprising two parallel plates each provided with a series of slots adapted to cooperate with the guide-engaging members of the respective frames and to normally retain the frames in operative position upon the supports; and pivotal means for controlling the movements of the frame-guide, the frame-guide being movable forwardly and rearwardly to guide the frames out of or into engagement with the supports.

4. An account-register having, in combination, a series of filing-frames provided with guide-engaging and pivotal members adjacent their lower edges; supports upon which said pivotal members may rest when the frames are in use; and a frame-guide comprising two plates, having each a series of substantially parallel slots, and means connecting the plates to hold them in parallel position; the guide-engaging members of the frames being normally in engagement with the slots in said plates, and the frameguide, as a whole, being movable angularly to change the slots from upright to substantially horizontal position, respectively, and being movable also horizontally to engage the slots with, or disengage them from the frames.

5. An account-register having, in combination, a series of filing-frames provided with laterally-projecting pivot-members adjacent their lower edges; two inclined supports upon which the pivot-members rest when the frames are in position for use; a

frame-guide comprising two plates, having.

each a series of substantially parallel slots adapted to engage the pivotmembers of the respective frames adjacent the supports, and

' means rigidly connecting the plates and holding them in parallel position; and pivotal means cooperating with said plates adjacent their lowermost and-foremost portions, and about which the frame-guide may be swung to bring the pivot-members into or out of engagement with the supports.

6. An account-register having, in combination, a series of filing-frames provided with laterally-projecting pivot-members adjacent their lower edges two inclined supports upon which the pivot-members rest when the frames are in position for use; a frame-guide comprising two plates, having each a series of substantially parallel slots adapted to engage the pivot-members-of the respective frames adjacent the supports and means rigidly connecting the plates and holding them in parallel position; and pivotal means cooperating with said plates adjacent their lowermost and foremost portions, and about which the frame-guide may be swung to bring the pivot-members into or out of engagement with the supports; the slots in said plates having their lower ends in alinement so as to aline the pivot-members of the frames when the frame-guide has been swung to its final position.

7. An account-register having, in combination, a series of filing-frames provided with laterally-projecting pivotmembers adjacent their lower edges; two inclined supports upon which the pivot-members rest when the frames are in position for use; a frame-guide comprising two plates, having each a series of substantially parallel slots adapted to engage the pivot-members of the respective frames adjacent the supports, and means rigidly connecting the plates and holding them in parallel position; and pivotal means cooperating with said plates adjacent their lowermost and foremost portions, and about which the frame-guide may be swung to bring the pivot-members into or out of engagement with the supports; said pivotal means cooperating with the foremost slots in the guide-plates and permitting horizontal sliding movement of the guide when the slots have been brought into horizontal position.

8. An account-register having, in combination, a series of filing-frames provided with laterally-projecting pivot-members adjacent their lower edges; a frame-guide provided with a series of substantially parallel slots, which are normally vertical and are open at their upper ends so that they may receive the pivot-members of the respective frames; and an inclined support adapted to engage the frames adjacent the guide-member and to support them with their pivotmembers arranged in an'inclined plane in the slots of the guide-member.

9. An account-register having, in combination, a series of filing-frames provided with laterally-projecting pivot-members adjacent their lower edges; a frame-guide provided with a series of substantially parallel slots, which are normally vertical and are open at their upper ends so that they may receive the pivot-members of the respective frames; and an inclined support adapted to engage the frames adjacent the guide-memher and to, support them with their pivotmembers arranged in an inclined plane in 10 the slots of the guide-member; the guidemember and the support constituting two parts of which one is angularly movable to bring the edges of the frames into alinement in a plane normal to the planes of the frames.

ALBERT F. STAPLES.

WVitnesses CHARLES F. RICHARDSON, ELIZABETH F. UNIAG.

Goples of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). C. 

